Again this week, my attention was drawn to a headline exposing a ministry leader’s sexual outsourcing with a woman other than his wife. One would think with headlines such as this occurring regularly we all would take notice and do a better job of taking care of our own sexual integrity, our lives and marriages. Whether these occurrences take place seemingly in secret with pornography or another person, it appears Christian leaders are in trouble.
Michael Todd Wilson has written an important proactive book in Unburdened, directed right at the ministry leader. He writes:
“This book isn’t so much about equipping as it is about giving permission—permission to work through our fear and internal resistance so we can simply take one single step in the direction of greater sexual integrity.”
Wilson is the founder of Intentional Hearts, targeting Christian men, offering the hope of sexual integrity and recovery. He also serves as the director of Shepherdcare, a nonprofit that provides direct support for ministers. He writes this book with love, compassion and admiration for those who feel called to participate in kingdom work and also struggle with sexual sin. He provides a definite message of hope. He shares parts of his own story:
“Sometimes I still make poor choices with what my eyes see, more often in my environment than on the Internet. My brain still over-interprets sexual stimuli. But there’s a difference in my response today from years ago. When I act on my impulses rather than my Christian values, I try to take ownership of it as quickly as possible. I admit it to myself, to God and one other person, in the tradition of the Twelve Steps. If it also included accessing any sort of porn, I also tell my wife. The last thing I want is to let my shame keep me in darkness, isolated by fear far from my wife and my closest male relationships.”
The author concludes the book with three thorough sections for immediate support and direction: Sexual Integrity Action Steps; Mentoring and Leading Other Men Along the Path; Additional Resources.
These resources provide outstanding help for each leader who currently is struggling and anyone who is in a position to help others. Throughout his book, Wilson stresses discipline…recovery happens because of discipline. He has written a comprehensive book with that same discipline, thereby offering great help and support to all Christian leaders.
